Sunday, July 18, 2010

Why Use a Flash? (Basic)

Most beginners don't like to use flash, having associated it with the deer-in-headlights look. (When we were searching for a wedding photographer, I even naively told them I specifically did not want flash used. :)) )

However, properly used, flash is very a powerful creative tool. If you haven't learned to use flash properly, then I would say you have no idea what you're missing. (Note: Putting tupperware on your flash does not count as learning to use flash properly.) Check out these shots to see what's possible:

The photo at the top of this post used flash (on-camera flash, bounced).

(off-camera flash, bounced)

(on-camera flash, bounced)

(off-camera flash, shoot-through umbrella)

(bare off-camera flash, gelled)

(off-camera flash, softbrella)

(bare off-camera flash, gelled)

(bare off-camera flash, gelled, zoomed)

(off-camera flash, shoot-through umbrella)

(on-camera flash, bounced)

(bare off-camera flash with pop-up flash)

If you're considering learning flash, I've got great news. It's actually not that difficult to learn, though to be honest, it's one of those easy-to-learn, hard-to-master things. Here's a TTL Flash Tutorial to get you started. If you complete the tutorial, you'll have enough knowledge to pull off any of the shots above and improve upon them.